ZAHIDI Zainul Abidin, who was dropped from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate list, is standing as an Independent for the Padang Besar parliamentary seat and Titi Tinggi state seat in the November 19 general election.

The incumbent for Padang Besar since 2013 is facing a five-cornered tussle with BN candidate Zahida Zarik Khan, Rushdan Rusmi (Perikatan Nasional-PAS), Mohamad Saad @ Yahya (Pakatan Harapan-Amanah) and Ko Chu Liang (Warisan). 

The caretaker deputy communications and multimedia minister said he is against BN’s decision in fielding candidates from outside Perlis.

“We sympathise with this candidate whose ‘iddah’ period is still not over, but we do not agree with the decision made by (Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi, so we have to proceed with our plan to run as an Independent candidate,” he told reporters after the nomination process at Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra Mara Junior Science College in Padang Besar today.

“The odds of winning this time… what I can say is that we can make our plans and only God will decide.”

Zahida, who is Puteri Umno chief, has to observe the “iddah” period for four months and 10 days as prescribed in Islamic teachings, following the death of her husband on August 20.

In the last general election, Zahidi won the Padang Besar seat on the BN ticket with a majority of 1,438 votes, defeating PKR’s Izizam Ibrahim and Mokhtar Senik from PAS.

In the fight for the Titi Tinggi state seat, Zahidi is in a six-cornered contest against Khaw Hock Kong (Warisan), Teh Seng Chuan (Pakatan Harapan-DAP), Izizam Ibrahim (Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu), Mohd Shahril Md Sarif (Gerakan Tanah Air-Pejuang) and the incumbent, Teh Chai Aan (BN-MCA). – Bernama, November 5, 2022.